Although this photo from the Cook County Historical Society is annotated simply “Santa arrived safely in town in 1949 and is assisted by Howard Joynes, ” there is much more to the story. If you look closely at the photo, you see the wing of a plane—right up against a building— the Shore Theatre. Long-time Cook
County News-Herald
staffer Dick Gilbertsen recalled that the plane was flown by pilot Willard Watters, who frequently flew the plane from up the Gunflint Trail to the Grand Marais harbor. Someone got the idea to land the plane on the Main Street of Grand Marais to bring Santa to the theater to deliver goodies to area children. Gilbertsen said he landed just fine, but for some reason the plane veered off to the side and crashed into the front of the theater. Fortunately, it was a minor crash and Santa was able to visit with the waiting kids. “Santa” was Harold Nelson and helping him is Howard Joynes. Gilbertsen chuckled at the memory and said, “Lucky no one was hurt!”
The official News-Herald
report, printed on the front page of the December 22, 1949 issue follows:
Santa literally crashed into town
when plane tail ski fouls
The children waiting for Santa Claus to come to town last Saturday got more excitement than they bargained for.
At 12:30 p.m. the downtown street was closed of trafficand hundreds of children filled the roped off street. They were looking skyward in anticipation of the plane that would bring jolly old St. Nick.
Someone called, “There he comes,” and cheers arose.
The plane glided easily in the sky, banked, and gracefully settled for the landing. The pilot chose to come in from the East Bay end of the street and planned to land near the Co-Op store and taxi along to Quaife’s Standard Oil Station. He made a perfect landing and came along, but just before reaching the Shore Theatre, the plane turned in as though drawn by a magnet. People couldn’t believe it, but the plane kept right on, climbed the curb and crashed its nose through the front door of the theatre.
For a moment none moved. Then there was a human flood toward the plane that no one could stem. The pilot and Santa climbed out of the wrecked two-place cub, unhurt, except for feelings.
Santa went on with his job of distributing candy and popcorn balls. A group of men pushed the damaged plane to the vacant lot across from Toftey’s store.
Willard Watters, owner and pilot of the plane, was at a loss to explain what had happened. Then it dawned on him. “It was that tail ski,” he said. He lifted the tail of the plane and demonstrated the action of the ski that was controlled by two springs.
“There is no control of this ski from the cockpit,” he explained. “I put it on to act as a brake, but I never anticipated it would act like that.”
He explained that as long as the plane had momentum as it rolled along the street the ski stayed straight, but as the weight settled upon the tail ski it evidently turned sidewise as it struck a rough spot and stayed that way. That steered the plane away from a straight line.
Mr. Watters estimated the damage to the plane at $800, and said he would not attempt to repair it. “Anyway, nobody got hurt, and that’s the main thing.”
Do you have an old picture or a story from years gone by that you would like to share with Cook County News-Herald readers? Give us a call,
or stop by our Grand Marais office. We’d love to hear your Historical Reflections. Call (218) 387-9100; e-mail starnews@boreal.org; or stop by
our officeat 15 First Avenue West.
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